NHTSA Complaint #10075082 — 1998 DODGE B SERIES

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS 1998 DODGE B VAN WITH 70591MILES. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER NOTICED A SMELL IN THE VEHICLE CAB AND SMOKE NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. HE PULLED INTO A VERIZON PARKING LOT AND WENT INSIDE TO CALL HIS MECHANIC. WHILE INSIDE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AN INVESTIGATION BY AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR, HIRED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER LISTED THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS AN AFTER-MARKET HEATER BLOWER MOTOR YET THE BLOWER MOTOR DID NOT EVEN GET HOT ENOUGH TO MELT A PART NUMBER DECAL ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR. ALL OF THE HEATER BOX AREA UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE DASH IS BURNT AND/OR MELTED. VERIZON HAS EXPERIENCED MANY BLOWER MOTOR FAILURES AND BLOWER RESISTOR FAILURES IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. VERIZON HAS EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND FEELS THAT THIS FIRE WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *AK